Street crime declining in Helsinki - sex offences go down by half

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Security on the streets of Helsinki improved noticeably in the course of January through February this year. The number of robberies decreased by 25 percent compared with the same period last year.
      According to the police statistics, the number of sexual offences dropped most dramatically - almost halving compared with 2005.
      In 2005, a total of 76 sex crimes were recorded by the police in the two first months, while this year's corresponding figure was only 40.
      Moreover, the number of robberies decreased by almost 25 percent.
     
On the other hand, the number of break-ins and burglaries increased in January but decreased again in February when compared with last year. The largest numbers of burglaries occurred in the districts of Meri-Rastila, Alppiharju, and Itäkeskus. Regarding break-ins into the attics and basements of houses, two problem areas were the districts of Lauttasaari and Kallio.
      The street security index measures how safe the streets are. In the index the weighted amount of robberies, assaults, vandalism, and driving under the influence is represented in proportion to the population. The larger the figure, the safer the area is.
     
At the beginning of the current year the street security index in Helsinki was 71.83 points, while last year the figure was five points lower. The aim of the capital city is to maintain the minimum street security index of at least 59 points.
      Jari Liukku, deputy head of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), says that Helsinki is still far behind the desired security index values for the entire country. The nationwide aim is to achieve a security index of 93.5.
      Liukku assumes that the population density of the capital has some effect on the situation.
      "In Helsinki there are districts with a population density of 12,000 people per square kilometre, while the population density of the entire country is just 15.4 persons per square kilometre", Liukku observes.
     
Random variations and police surveillance both have a certain impact on the street security index.
      "When traffic surveillance is increased, index figures decrease through the higher level of prosecutions. However, in the long run the surveillance will naturally have a positive effect", says Liukku.
      Based on the index figures, Liukku does not believe in the calming effect of the Olympic Games, in the sense of more people becoming couch-potatoes. "The Winter Olympics did not reduce the number of police assignments", Liukku notes.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Fewer crimes in Helsinki in January 2006 (7.3.2006)
  Violent robberies continue in downtown Helsinki (22.9.2005)
  More than 200 sex crimes reported each year in Helsinki (3.5.2005)

Links:
  Police: Public Order and Security

Helsingin Sanomat